News

Get this school year off to a great start

BT Staff | posted Thursday, Sep 9th, 2021

This BT feature is presented in partnership with Oxford Learning.

Many students are heading back to class after a long hiatus. And that can mean returning to school on different pages and with different paces. Children have been learning at different speeds. For some, computer skills have skyrocketed. For others, reading may have fallen off the home-school schedule. But Oxford Learning, can help tip the scales in your favour.

As parents, you’ve already dug up the backpack and topped up the school supplies. Kids have already brought uneaten lunches home and probably even lost a shoe or two. Here are some other helpful ways to help your family be prepared and stay prepared for the academic challenges coming our way. Check out our top 10 tips:

    1. Restore routines: kids love structure. A pre-and-post-school schedule can help keep everyone on track – especially when managing time around extra-curricular activities.
    2. Schedule reading time: reading skills are highly transferrable and the basis for all subjects. Adding some time in your book nook each day will help boost your child’s skills.
    3. Build better sleep habits: brains recover overnight, and new information is absorbed. Ensuring a solid sleep schedule keeps everyone’s moods in check and focus razor-sharp.
    4. Prioritize organization habits: keeping your child’s schoolwork organized is important so they can quickly find their papers and books at school, while also keeping their work tidy.
    5. Set goals for this school year: ask your children what they want to achieve this year and use that list as a check-in on a regular basis. It lets your children feel heard and helps you all point in the right direction.
    6. Be prepared for online learning: flexibility is the key to life these days. Don’t disassemble your home set up just yet. Be ready to be agile for potential sick days, school closures and more.
    7. Set screen time limits: many children will have to be close to their screens this year for school. That means a big focus on reducing tv, gaming and tablet time outside of school to keep those little eyes rested.
    8. Create a study studio at home: this goes hand-in-hand with creating a routine. When your child has a go-to location in the home where they know they can get their work done, it’s one less question to arise.
    9. Check in with mental health: don’t take this one for granted. Lots of changes create lots of emotions. Ask the obvious questions and the hard questions.
    10. Practice gratitude: it’s so easy to complain. Try swapping the negative conversation for a positive one and teach the next generation about looking on the bright side.

 

More about Oxford Learning:

When your child is struggling or doesn’t feel confident in their abilities, there’s always an underlying reason. Oxford Learning works hard to get to the root of the issue through a personalized program that helps your child with the building block skills they need and the confidence in their knowledge they deserve. Often, children react differently to tutors than they do to teachers and parents. Individual attention gives your child the support they need that they may miss out on in a crowded classroom. It also gives your child personalized challenges that help keep them excited about learning and driven to achieve their best.

Since 1984, Oxford Learning has been using a unique approach to tutoring. Their focus on cognitive learning helps students use their brains more effectively. This helps build fundamental skills and teaches your children how to learn.

Traditional tutoring uses memorization as the basis for their programs. But Oxford Learning believes in developing fundamental learning skills that propel students to better grades and deeper knowledge. This approach helps fill the gaps between your child’s understanding of the work and what is being taught in school:

  • Find the most effective way for a child to learn
  • Teach your child using a big picture approach so they can understand how smaller thoughts fit into larger ideas
  • Help your child retain and apply new concepts successfully and with ease

You’ve already planted the seeds for a new school year routine; Oxford Learning knows the first few weeks can be a key time for understanding what’s needed for the year ahead. They’re here to help you and your family get the academic support you need when the time is right. In the meantime, there are a few things you can do to help jump-start the school year.

For more information about tutoring, subject areas, programs and more, visit oxfordlearning.com.

 

Get this school year off to a great start

BT Toronto | posted Thursday, Sep 9th, 2021

Many students are heading back to class after a long hiatus. And that can mean returning to school on different pages and with different paces. Children have been learning at different speeds. For some, computer skills have skyrocketed. For others, reading may have fallen off the home-school schedule. But Oxford Learning, can help tip the scales in your favour.

As parents, you’ve already dug up the backpack and topped up the school supplies. Kids have already brought uneaten lunches home and probably even lost a shoe or two. Here are some other helpful ways to help your family be prepared and stay prepared for the academic challenges coming our way. Check out our top 10 tips:

    1. Restore routines: kids love structure. A pre-and-post-school schedule can help keep everyone on track – especially when managing time around extra-curricular activities.
    2. Schedule reading time: reading skills are highly transferrable and the basis for all subjects. Adding some time in your book nook each day will help boost your child’s skills.
    3. Build better sleep habits: brains recover overnight, and new information is absorbed. Ensuring a solid sleep schedule keeps everyone’s moods in check and focus razor-sharp.
    4. Prioritize organization habits: keeping your child’s schoolwork organized is important so they can quickly find their papers and books at school, while also keeping their work tidy.
    5. Set goals for this school year: ask your children what they want to achieve this year and use that list as a check-in on a regular basis. It lets your children feel heard and helps you all point in the right direction.
    6. Be prepared for online learning: flexibility is the key to life these days. Don’t disassemble your home set up just yet. Be ready to be agile for potential sick days, school closures and more.
    7. Set screen time limits: many children will have to be close to their screens this year for school. That means a big focus on reducing tv, gaming and tablet time outside of school to keep those little eyes rested.
    8. Create a study studio at home: this goes hand-in-hand with creating a routine. When your child has a go-to location in the home where they know they can get their work done, it’s one less question to arise.
    9. Check in with mental health: don’t take this one for granted. Lots of changes create lots of emotions. Ask the obvious questions and the hard questions.
    10. Practice gratitude: it’s so easy to complain. Try swapping the negative conversation for a positive one and teach the next generation about looking on the bright side.

 

More about Oxford Learning:

When your child is struggling or doesn’t feel confident in their abilities, there’s always an underlying reason. Oxford Learning works hard to get to the root of the issue through a personalized program that helps your child with the building block skills they need and the confidence in their knowledge they deserve. Often, children react differently to tutors than they do to teachers and parents. Individual attention gives your child the support they need that they may miss out on in a crowded classroom. It also gives your child personalized challenges that help keep them excited about learning and driven to achieve their best.

Since 1984, Oxford Learning has been using a unique approach to tutoring. Their focus on cognitive learning helps students use their brains more effectively. This helps build fundamental skills and teaches your children how to learn.

Traditional tutoring uses memorization as the basis for their programs. But Oxford Learning believes in developing fundamental learning skills that propel students to better grades and deeper knowledge. This approach helps fill the gaps between your child’s understanding of the work and what is being taught in school:

  • Find the most effective way for a child to learn
  • Teach your child using a big picture approach so they can understand how smaller thoughts fit into larger ideas
  • Help your child retain and apply new concepts successfully and with ease

You’ve already planted the seeds for a new school year routine; Oxford Learning knows the first few weeks can be a key time for understanding what’s needed for the year ahead. They’re here to help you and your family get the academic support you need when the time is right. In the meantime, there are a few things you can do to help jump-start the school year.

For more information about tutoring, subject areas, programs and more, visit oxfordlearning.com.

 

Students in Toronto, Peel, York and Durham head back to class today

THE CANADIAN PRESS | posted Thursday, Sep 9th, 2021

Summary

Today marks the first day of class for students in the Toronto, Peel, York and Durham boards


Some boards started their school years earlier this week


It will be the third school year affected by the pandemic


Students in some of Ontario’s largest school boards head back to class Thursday amid a fourth wave of COVID-19.

Some boards started their school years earlier this week, but today marks the first day of class for students in the Toronto, Peel, York and Durham boards.

It will be the third school year affected by the pandemic, though this year the province’s science experts are calling for schools to stay open in all but the most catastrophic circumstances.

COVID-19 safety will be top of mind for parents and students, and Ontario’s education minister says all 72 publicly funded school boards have achieved the goal of a stand-alone HEPA filter installed in every learning space that isn’t mechanically ventilated.

The Ministry of Education has sent guidelines to schools in a bid to slow the spread of the virus, which include requirements that staff and students self-screen for COVID-19 each day and wear masks indoors.

The province recently removed runny nose and headache from the list of COVID-19 symptoms that require children to stay home from school and get tested for COVID-19.

Federal party leaders gear up for English-language debate tonight

THE CANADIAN PRESS | posted Thursday, Sep 9th, 2021

Summary

Millions of voters were expected to tune in to the two-hour English-language debate, and last night’s faceoff in French


The leaders will convene again at 9 p.m. ET


The debates come as opinion polls suggest the Liberals and Conservatives are stuck in a tight two-way race


Five federal party leaders are licking their wounds and prepping their zingers after an occasionally testy debate Wednesday that came ahead of Thursday night’s first and only one in English.

With under two weeks to go, millions of voters were expected to tune in to the two-hour English-language debate as well as last night’s faceoff in French.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet and Green Party Leader Annamie Paul took part in the showdown and will convene again at 9 p.m. eastern time.

The debates come as opinion polls suggest the Liberals and Conservatives are stuck in a tight two-way race, with the NDP and Bloc poised to determine which of the two main parties emerges victorious.

The topics discussed Wednesday included health transfers to the provinces, child-care funding, climate and the COVID-19 pandemic as the politicians sought to sway francophones ahead of the election on Sept. 20.

The spiciest exchange, however, concerned issues of Quebec identity and representation when an animated Trudeau turned on Blanchet late in the debate, proclaiming that he is also a “proud Quebecer” and that Blanchet does not have a monopoly on the province.

“You keep forgetting: I’m a Quebecer,” Trudeau said, his face flushed, while a small smile slid across Blanchet’s. “I have always been a Quebecer, I will always be a Quebecer.

“You have no right to consider me not a Quebecer.”

Blanchet conceded to reporters in English after the debate that it was “probably true” that Trudeau was as much a Quebecer as him.

“But in terms of institutions, this is the Assemblée nationale du Québec which speaks for Quebec,” he said, referring to the French name for the provincial legislature, adding that Quebecers are “obviously not” a monolith.

Much of the back-and-forth Wednesday revolved around health care and how to pay for it. Moderator Patrice Roy pushed the politicians to spell out how much money they would give the provinces, and whether they would hand over the extra $28 billion in annual funding requested by premiers.

Trudeau pledged an added $25 billion, but “not unconditionally,” while O’Toole reiterated his plan to boost health transfers to the provinces by $60 billion over 10 years, “without conditions because it is a matter of respect” — a word he used repeatedly when referring to Quebec.

“I trust the government of Quebec. Why does Mr. Trudeau always interfere in provincial jurisdiction?” O’Toole asked.

However, freshly released costing for the Conservative platform states that only $3.6 billion of that would come in the first five years.

“I will increase health transfers in a way that’s stable, predictable,” O’Toole said.

He also fended off attacks on child care.

Conservative officials said Wednesday an O’Toole government would honour the funding deals with provinces for the first year. But after that the Liberal child-care plan — including $6 billion earmarked for Quebec — would be replaced by the Tories’ promise to convert the existing child-care expense deduction into a refundable tax credit that would cover up to 75 per cent of child-care costs for low-income families.

Paul said after the debate that daycare has languished below the radar in part because it’s framed as a women’s issue, further upping the need to bring more women and other-under-represented groups into leadership roles.

Paul brought a personal touch to the federal debate — the first for the 11-month Green leader — noting her father’s death in a long-term care home during the pandemic’s second wave. She also said she sees Greens as “allies” to First Nations, citing her own experience as part of a diaspora robbed of its traditional culture.

Singh said he would “completely agree” that Indigenous languages should be recognized as official, going further than other leaders asked on the topic Wednesday.

Leaders spar on vaccines, snap elections as French debate kicks off

THE CANADIAN PRESS | posted Thursday, Sep 9th, 2021

Summary

Party leaders sparred over health care, vaccines and the environment during the French-language debate Wednesday


The debate, organized by consortiums of broadcasters, was held at the Museum of Canadian History


The English debate will be held on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET


With under two weeks to go, millions of voters were expected to tune in to the two-hour French-language debate and then the English-language debate Thursday night.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet and Green Party Leader Annamie Paul were slatedto participate in both debates.

People’s Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier did not meet the criteria established by the independent Leaders’ Debates Commission for participation.

Organized by consortiums of broadcasters, both debates are being held at the Museum of Canadian History – its grand hall transformed into a television studio – in Gatineau, Que., just across the river from Parliament Hill.

The topics discussed climate change, the cost of living and public finances, Indigenous Peoples and cultural identity, justice and foreign policy, and health care and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The spiciest sparring session, however, concerned issues of Quebec identity and representation when an animated Trudeau turned on Blanchet late in the debate.

“You keep forgetting: I’m a Quebecer, I’m a proud Quebecer,” Trudeau said, his face flushed, while a small smile slid across Blanchet’s.

“You do not have a monopoly over Quebec … You take the Quebec government’s record as if it’s your own,” Trudeau continued. “You have no right to consider me not a Quebecer.”

Blanchet conceded to reporters in English after the debate that it was “probably true” that Trudeau was as much a Quebecer as him.

“But in terms of institutions, this is the Assemblee nationale du Quebec which speaks for Quebec,” he said, referring to the provincial legislature.

Trudeau also disputed that point, saying the notion that a lack of belief in independence means one is not a Quebecer is “irresponsible” and “false.”

Quebecers are “obviously not” a monolithic block, Blanchet added in French.

Much of the back-and-forth Wednesday revolved around health care and how to pay for it. Moderator Patrice Roy pushed the politicians to spell out how much money they would give the provinces, and whether they would hand over the extra $28 billion in annual funding requested by premiers.

Trudeau pledged an added $25 billion, but “not unconditionally,” while O’Toole reiterated his plan to boost health transfers to the provinces by $60 billion over 10 years, “without conditions because it is a matter of respect” _ a word he used repeatedly when referring to Quebec.

“I trust the government of Quebec. Why does Mr. Trudeau always interfere in provincial jurisdiction?” O’Toole asked.

Trudeau parried that the Tory leader is “not standing up against a two-tier system.”

Blanchet reiterated the $28-billion demand, arguing that other parties “claim that the federal government knows more about that than the provincial governments.”

Singh said he was open to the idea and Paul underscored the need for “fundamental reform” of Canadian health care.

Asked whether vaccination against COVID-19 should be mandatory, Trudeau called the discussion a “false debate” and sought to drive a wedge between his stance and O’Toole’s. The Tory leader’s position suggests vaccination and rapid testing are equivalent, Trudeau claimed.

“This isn’t the time to be dividing people. We need to work together,” O’Toole rebutted, stressing that vaccination is “essential” but that rapid testing, masks and physical distancing also play a role.

The leaders also made their respective pitches for a greener Canada at the end of a summer that has seen fatal heat waves and wildfires.

Pressed on the fate of the Trans Mountain pipeline, which Ottawa bought from Kinder Morgan in 2018, under a would-be NDP government, Singh insisted he opposed the project but gave no definitive answer on what he would do with it as prime minister: “We will take stock of the situation.”

Trudeau said Indigenous communities hope to buy the pipeline and could continue to operate it until “we don’t need it anymore.”

O’Toole stressed that families in Western Canada have a right to economic recovery, while Paul said it should be cancelled. Blanchet, in keeping with his belief in greater provincial independence, favours handing over the crude-oil conduit to Alberta.

As the debate wore on, a few dozen protesters, some carrying PPC signs, continued to mingle on the sidewalk but found themselves blocked from coming near the entrance to the museum.

The Conservatives released the costing for their election platform just hours before the leaders began to arrive at the debate venue Wednesday evening, amid mounting criticism from Trudeau over O’Toole’s failure to produce the balance sheet for his plan.

Tory platform pledges would add $30 billion to this fiscal year’s forecasted budget deficit of $138.2 billion, according to the document, which is based on the parliamentary budget officer’s election platform costing baseline. The deficit would then fall substantially each year thereafter, landing at $24.7 billion in 2025-26.

Blanchet threw a pre-debate punch, telling reporters an hour before game time that the billions in child-care funding pledged to Quebec by the Liberal government fails to show up in the Conservatives’ five-year plan.

Conservative officials said Wednesday that an O’Toole government would honour the funding deals with provinces for the first year. But after that the Liberal child-care plan would be replaced by the Conservatives’ promise to convert the existing child-care expense deduction into a refundable tax credit that would cover up to 75 per cent of child-care costs for low-income families.

Paul said after the debate that daycare has languished below the radar in part because it’s framed as a women’s issue, further upping the need to bring more women and other-underrepresented groups into leadership roles.

“When I talk about bringing more diversity to politics, this is exactly what I mean,” she said.

TDSB, TCDSB pause extra-curriculars activities on TPH recommendation

BT Toronto | posted Thursday, Sep 9th, 2021

The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) have paused extra-curricular activities after a recommendation from Toronto Public Health.

On September 8, Public Health updated their guidelines for Toronto schools and said while school routines are established, these activities with mixed cohorts should be paused for September.

The TDSB has also paused field trips and high contact sports for the first month of school.

The Ontario government’s plan allowed for high- and low-contact activities, but with some restrictions including masking and social distancing.

TDSB schools will be officially opening their doors to students on Thursday, Sept. 9.

TPH is also encouraging anyone eligible to get vaccinated against COVID-19. As of earlier in August, at least 78 per cent of Toronto kids aged 12 to 17 have gotten one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine, while at least 64 per cent have been fully immunized

Tonight’s French debate, Thursday’s English debate pivotal for federal leaders

THE CANADIAN PRESS | posted Wednesday, Sep 8th, 2021

Summary

Millions of voters are expected to tune in for tonight’s two-hour French debate and Thursday’s English debate


Both debates, organized by consortiums of broadcasters, are being held at the Museum of Canadian History


The French debate is on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET, the English debate is on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET


Five federal party leaders will face off in the first of two official election debates Wednesday night in what may well be their best chance to sway voters before election day on Sept. 20.

With less than two weeks to go, millions of voters are expected to tune in for tonight’s two-hour French debate and Thursday’s English debate.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet and Green Party Leader Annamie Paul will participate in both debates.

People’s Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier did not meet the criteria established by the independent leaders’ debate commission for participation.

Both debates, organized by consortiums of broadcasters, are being held at the Museum of Canadian History in Gatineau, Que., just across the river from Parliament Hill.

The debates come as opinion polls suggest the Liberals and Conservatives are stuck in a tight two-way race, with the NDP and Bloc poised to determine which of the two main parties emerges victorious.

Last week’s TVA French debate, to which neither Paul nor Bernier was invited, appears to have done little to move the needle for any party.

In 2019, some 7.5 million Canadians tuned in to the English debate across all traditional and social media platforms while some three million tuned in to the official French debate.

Surveys conducted by the debates commission afterwards suggested that “the debates were central to the electoral process,” according to a commission report on the process.

“On balance, the debates played an important role in increasing engagement with the issues, leaders, and choices before voters.”

That said, the commission reported that its surveys found no measurable difference in intended turnout or change in vote intention between Canadians who watched the debates and those who didn’t.

Tonight’s French debate begins at 8 p.m. ET.

Topics to be discussed are climate change, the cost of living and public finances, Indigenous Peoples and cultural identity, justice and foreign policy, and health care and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The English debate on Thursday starts at 9 p.m.

The topics for that debate are affordability, climate, COVID-19 recovery, leadership and accountability and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.

Tory, de Villa to update Toronto’s COVID-19 response

THE CANADIAN PRESS | posted Wednesday, Sep 8th, 2021

Toronto’s mayor and its top doctor will provide an update today on the city’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

John Tory and Dr. Eileen de Villa are holding a news conference at 2 p.m.

Toronto Public Health says the city has logged an average of 150 new cases per day for the last four days.

Yesterday, Ontario reported 564 new infections for the previous day — 434 of them people who were not fully vaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown.

Man shot, killed near Driftwood Avenue and Jane Street, police say

BT Toronto | posted Wednesday, Sep 8th, 2021

Toronto police are probing a deadly shooting in a North York neighbourhood.

Police said they were called at around 9 p.m. Tuesday to the Driftwood Avenue and Grand Ravine Drive area for a report of gunshots.

When officers arrived they found a man in his 30s with gunshot wounds.  The man succumbed to his injuries at the scene, police said.

Investigators from the homicide division have now taken over the investigation.

The suspects fled the scene, police said. No description has been released by investigators at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the police directly. Tips can also be left anonymously with Crime Stoppers.

Some areas of Toronto without power after Tuesday’s thunderstorms

BT Toronto | posted Wednesday, Sep 8th, 2021

Environment Canada has lifted its severe thunderstorm watch for Toronto, but some areas of the city are without power after Tuesday evening’s storms.

Toronto Hydro said it is responding to two major outages on Wednesday morning, one in Leslieville and the other in Leaside.

The Leslieville outage is affecting upwards of 5,000 homes and businesses in the area bounded by Gerrard Street East south to Queen Street East, and Leslie Street east to Woodbine Avenue.

Up to 1,000 homes and businesses in Leaside are in the dark, in an area bounded by Broadway Avenue south to Millwood Road and Bayview Avenue and east to Laird Drive.

Toronto and the GTA were under a severe thunderstorm warning, which was then downgraded to a severe thunderstorm watch late Tuesday evening. The watch was lifted just after 4 a.m. Wednesday.

Tuesday evening saw a series of storms move through the province, which saw hail, high winds, downpours, thunder and lightning. There were even unconfirmed reports of tornadoes in some parts of Southwestern Ontario.

Wednesday will see some rainstorms in Toronto, but they won’t be as severe in nature says CityNews weather specialist Natasha Ramsahai.

Here are some images from the storm system which came through southwestern Ontario earlier in the evening:

 

 

For the latest weather updates, check out our weather page.